Adapt and Overcome

I couldn’t climb Mount Everest, this year, or last year, so I will cycle up it. Sort of…

Right now, the Nepal earthquake victims have had to adapt and overcome to something far more devastating than a failed expedition. Naturally I would be compelled to do something, anything, to give them a helping hand.

It’s finally here. After much deliberation, setbacks, illness, and various maladies, this Thursday I will embark on a likely 17/18 hour bike ride to try and conquer Everest, that is, climbing over 29,035ft of vertical ascent over about 130 miles in less than 24 hours. This borderline-neurotic trend in ultra-endurance cycling is known as ‘Everesting’. To achieve it, I’ll make 14 continuous ascents and descents of Great Dun Fell in Cumbria, nr Penrith, to accrue the same height gain as Mt Everest. I’m going to make 14.5 ascents to ensure I get the full ascent- because assuredly my legs won’t permit me to go back for another go, like I do with the actual mountain.

Also, we’ve already raised over £1,800! I want to say a BIG thanks to the local businesses and individuals who’ve all backed me by sponsoring one of my ascents in the challenge, by donating £100 or more to the Himalayan Trust UK- www.justgiving.com/EPIC7

– Interim Performance Management x 2– (Alex Paterson and Steve Platt) providing high quality business experts

Chester Business Club (who I am proud to be a young ambassador for!)

– Vivio, Chester– leading b2b providers of business mobiles and landlines

– Westgrove Group– also a proud young ambassador! Award-winning bespoke cleaning and security solutions firm based in Warrington, Everest 2015 and EPIC7 head sponsor

– Click Consult- multi-award winning search marketing agency delivering online success

– Sharples Group– Also an Everest sponsor, independent provider of office equipment and printers

– Spring Coaching (Chris Spray)– leadership consulting and Discover Me programmes to nourish unique potential

– Veracity Digital- Chester-based production and filmmakers- check this out!

– Xpress Legal Services- major supplier of property related searches for solicitors

– Dan Hallett

– Alison Levine

On the day itself I’m glad to be supported by Ste Rumbelow, my right-hand man when it comes to my challenges and a keen cyclist himself (who also manages my Facebook posts whilst away on my challenges), and my friend Mick Walker, who is also a very keen cyclist whilst being entirely vegan and promoting good health. Mick will be joining me for the summit bid whilst Ste will be managing my updates for me and joining us on the laps too for lots of photo/video footage. Thanks to Chris for lending me a GoPro Hero 4 camera to capture the drama, and James for lending me his Garmin Forerunner so I can run it as a back-up in case mine fails. This will hurt too much for me to possibly risk being deprived without a file to gloat about on Strava… I aim to start approximately 4am at the foot of Great Dun Fell, a high tarmac road up to the radar station at the summit, which fortunately has no traffic hence it’s selection. It does however, take regular batterings of Pennine helm winds, hill fog and driving rain. Each ascent and descent involves about 632m of height gain, twisting hairpin bends, and 9.18 miles.

With enough calorie-intake to warrant guzzling chip fat from a barrel, my nutrition has been planned to the gram and I’ll let you know how this works out afterwards- thanks to my bike sponsors for the Edge Cycleworks in Chester for their help with supplies…

How do I feel? Well, nervous.  Reportedly this has only been managed by ten other British cyclists. But after intense training in the Lake District, that has now brought my resting heart rate to 40bpm- an all time best- I think I’m ready. I believe that this challenge is primarily mental- and my legs will definitely give out well before my mind will. Equally, this is a risk to be managed. Still, I know my limits from my EPIC7 experience where I made a number of 20+ hour endurance days without the fitness I have now. I’m excited to feel the elation of achievement and knowing we’ve made a real difference.

I’m extremely grateful for the generosity of so many. Lots of people have asked me ”Why would you do such a crazy thing?” Well, this video should answer my question…

Until then- see you on the summit…

Alex